Flaming Gold

This is one of those dramas of two oil wildcatters and one woman with a wicked past -- think Spencer Tracy, Clark Gable and Hedy Lamar, and even if the three of them never appeared in anything exactly like that, you've got the idea. As a Pre-Code B movie starring William Boyd, Pat O'Brien & Mae Clarke, it's got some good actors for the era, but its short length and undoubtedly small budget limited the visual fireworks to an oil fire in the background and some good reaction shots by Boyd when he begins to suspect hanky-panky between his business partner, Mr. O'Brien and his wife, Mae Clarke.

I've seen Miss Clarke in most of her high-profile roles during this period. She has never bettered her short dialogue with Pat O'Brien that sets up the final confrontation in the movie.

Dan Manton (William Boyd) and Ben Lear (Pat O'Brien) are partner wildcatters. They face sabotage from their big New York rival, but the wind shifts and the rival is the one burning down. The partners join up with local saloon owner Tampico Tess Terrill to build their own oil business. Dan is introduced to Claire Gordon.

This is a relatively short movie and ten minutes of it is a montage of oil well fires. I really like the oil fires. It's a mix of stock footage and a miniature of rows of oil wells. That's the best part of the movie. I never bought the romantic melodrama. I don't buy the chemistry or the confrontation. I guess that I understand the conflict, but I don't care. I do still love the oil fires. If they could cut out the rest, this would be good.

William Boyd (pre-Hopalong Cassidy) and Pat O'Brien are drilling for oil in the jungle. Boyd goes to the city to get financing and meets working girl Mae Clarke. They have a great time, fall in love, and get married. The twist, Bill doesn't know Mae was a working girl. When they arrive back at the site, Pat spots her for what she was, and assumes she tricked Bill into the marriage. Thus, the drama unfolds of this friendship/love triangle.

It's a bit dated, and you've seen the plot dozens of times, but, the cast is solid, and the story runs smoothly in it's 54 minute running time.

It would have been better if there had been more danger and excitement about the oil drilling, or life in the jungle, but, it is a drama, not an adventure.

For those that love classic movies, or those wanting to see early performances by the stars.

Dan and Ben (William Boyd and Pat O'Brien) are partners and wildcatters. A wildcatter was a name given to small independent outfits where they were trying to find out in order to strike it rich. After some serious problems where they are nearly put out of business by an evil oil company, a friend of theirs offers to go into partnership with them. But Dan will need to first go to New York City to get financing. While there, he meets and falls head over heels for Claire (Mae Clark). He knows absolutely nothing about her but doesn't care...he just wants to take her out west with him when he returns to work.

What Dan doesn't know is that Claire is a woman with a past. Like so many Pre-Code films, very adult content is implied...so that the adults in the audience will put two and two together...but kids will be blissfully ignorant. At least, that was the intention of many Pre-Code films like "Flaming Gold". What is her past? I assume she was a prostitute....and I think most folks seeing the film will assume this as well.

The biggest problem with Claire's past is that Dan is ignorant of this and his partner, Ben DOES....and he obviously resents her and assumes the worst about her. Where does all this end up? Well, in a finale that seems over and done with very, very quickly...too quickly. In fact. the film and the acting are very good but since it as a cheap B-movie, it really looks like they abruptly ended the film and a good 10-15 more minutes would have allowed for a much better and satisfying ending. Still, it is enjoyable and well made in most respects.

Boyd, Clarke and O'Brien are good together amidst the drilling equipment, a gusher, and a flaming oil field, with settings variously in a tropical swamp, New York City and a dive saloon. True to pre-code there is an adult theme and an issue with RKO production quality. But this is an unusually affecting love story. Mae Clarke is perfectly cast and delivers powerfully throughout. Boyd had immense impact in his later career even though not in demand for starring roles. Here, unlike earlier with Cagney, Clarke is cherished as the find of Boyd's life. Under the direction of movie pioneer Ralph Ince.